One-Year Repeated Cycles of Cognitive Training (CT) for Alzheimer’s Disease.
One-year repeated cycles of cognitive training (CT) for Alzheimer’s disease.
Aging Clin Exp Res. 2013 Jun 20;
Bergamaschi S, Arcara G, Calza A, Villani D, Orgeta V, Mondini S
BACKGROUND: Recent research suggests that a combination of both pharmacological and psychosocial treatments targeting cognitive functions improves cognition in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a 1-year cognitive training (CT) by comparing the cognitive performance of 16 patients with AD treated with CT and cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) (experimental group) with the performance of 16 patients treated with a non-specific cognitive treatment and ChEIs (control group). METHODS: This study was a single-blind randomized controlled trial. The patients in the experimental group received pharmacological treatment and repeated cycles of CT for 1 year, whereas the control group received pharmacological treatment and repeated cycles of non-specific cognitive exercises. The patients in the two groups were administered a variety of neuropsychological tests measuring several cognitive functions (i.e. memory, language, reasoning, executive function, working memory and apraxia), activities of daily living, and depression. RESULTS: After 1 year of training, the experimental group scored significantly higher on the Mini Mental State Examination, the Milan Overall Dementia Assessment battery and in other five neuropsychological tests, compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Present results suggest that repeated cycles of CT in patients with AD treated with ChEIs are associated with benefits in several areas of cognitive function. HubMed – depression
Organic Solvent-induced Bipolar Disorder: A Case Report.
Adv Mind Body Med. 2013; 27(3): 19-23
Sprouse A, Curtis L, Bartlik B
Many studies have reported neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms, including a significantly increased risk of depression and suicide, from exposure to low to moderate levels of organic solvents. However, few studies have reported a link between organic solvent exposure and bipolar disorder. The authors present a case of a 43-y-old man who developed new-onset bipolar disorder following exposure to organic solvents in a textile printing plant. The man had elevated blood levels of several common solvents. His symptoms abated following avoidance of solvent exposures at his workplace and after nutritional and sauna detoxification treatments that one of the authors formulated to clear xenobiotics. Following avoidance and detoxification, the patient’s blood concentrations of organic solvents fell to undetectable levels and his manic symptoms disappeared, with no significant recurrences over the past 13 y, as evaluated by the authors and his other physicians. HubMed – depression
Could yeast infections impair recovery from mental illness? A case study using micronutrients and olive leaf extract for the treatment of ADHD and depression.
Adv Mind Body Med. 2013; 27(3): 14-8
Rucklidge JJ
Micronutrients are increasingly used to treat psychiatric disorders including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood disorders, stress, and anxiety. However, a number of factors influence optimal response and absorption of nutrients, including the health of the gut, particularly the presence of yeast infections, such as Candida. As part of a wider investigation into the impact of micronutrients on psychiatric symptoms, many participants who experienced a yeast infection during their treatment showed a diminished response to the micronutrients. One case was followed systematically over a period of 3 y with documentation of deterioration in psychiatric symptoms (ADHD and mood) when infected with Candida and then symptom improvement following successful treatment of the infection with olive leaf extract (OLE) and probiotics. This case outlines that micronutrient treatment might be severely compromised by infections such as Candida and may highlight the importance of gut health when treating psychiatric disorders with nutrients. Given the role that inflammation can play in absorption of nutrients, it was hypothesized that the infection was impairing absorption of the micronutrients. HubMed – depression